Family and friends celebrate the life of Aiyana Jones

Hundreds of mourners attended Aiyana Jones funeral at Second Ebenezer Church to say goodbye. The 7-year-old was fatally shot by Detroit Police during a police raid.

Aiyana Jones funeral

The Rev. Al Sharpton eulogized Jones, the little girl who has come to symbolize the plight of a city shaken up by the recent wave of gun violence.

“I came because I feel we must stand and show the value and worth of the lives of our children,” Sharpton said.

In true Sharpton fashion, the civil rights activist brought mourners to their feet with an impassioned eulogy on policing, fatherhood, and gang lifestyle.

The Rev. Horace Sheffield III, addressing the congregation, called Aiyana a “fallen angel.” He said that everyone at the service is helping the family just by showing up.

“A grief shared is a grief diminished,” he said.

Aiyana’s family lawyer Geoffrey Fieger, gave rousing remarks . He said Aiyana’s death was senseless and tragic.

“By her death, Aiyana has paid for a justice that will save the lives of other children,” he said.

Family friend Tara Way read letters of support from Congressman John Conyers and others. She also read poems from Aiyana’s parents.

“The pain is hard to bear,” Charles Jones’ poem stated. “Just keep on shining down from heaven. These words are from my heart to my baby. Without all my love, and no one to give it to!!! Love Daddy.”

Police raid that claimed her life

Aiyana had been sleeping on a living room sofa about 12:40 a.m. Sunday when she was struck by a bullet from a gun fired by a member of the Detroit Police Special Response Team. Officers entered the downstairs flat of the two-story duplex ob the East side of Detroit after throwing a stun grenade through the glass of a front window.

A video crew taped the raid for the cable TV show “The First 48” as police executed a warrant for Chauncey Louis Owens, 34, wanted in the May 14 slaying of Southeastern High School senior Je’Rean Blake. Officers captured Owens while they simultaneously raided the duplex’s upstairs unit without deploying a stun bomb.

Prosecutors have charged Owens with murder in the shooting death of 17‑year‑old Je’Rean Blake.

Who shot Aiyana Jones?

Authorities identified Officer Joseph Weekley, a Detroit Police Special Response Team member, as the person who fatally shot Aiyana. They placed the 14-year veteran on a desk job while investigators review the incident.

Police initially purported that Aiyana’s grandmother attempted to take Weekley’s gun, causing the shot. Later, police said the two may have collided.

Fieger filed lawsuits on behalf of the family claiming negligence, civil rights violations and a police cover-up of the true facts.

Fieger says he has seen video evidence contradicting police accounts. He claims the officer fired the fatal shot before entering the front door. Producers of the television show say they have turned their recordings over to investigators.

Aiyana’s death has drawn national attention sparking conversations on no knock warrants and policing in Black communities.

Authorities said the Michigan State Police and the DPD homicide squad’s special assignments section will investigate the fatal shooting incident, which involves all police shootings.